SUGAR
“a most precious product, very necessary for the use and health of mankind”
– William of Tyre, 12th century crusader
Sugar has played an important role in history as a medicine, a spice, a symbol of royalty and wealth, and as an instrument of oppression, addiction, and disease. The quest for sugar and its related commodities -rum, coffee, tea, and chocolate -and the wealth they produced, generated a massive boost to the Atlantic slave trade, increased European colonization of tropical lands, contributed to the Industrial Revolution, and forever altered mankind’s food consumption and nutrition.
Sugar was a luxury for centuries, spawning opulent and elegantly fashioned decorative furnishings for the tables of the wealthy. Savannah merchants imported these wares from northern cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and from England, France, China, and other countries, via sailing ships and then steam ships into the Port of Savannah. The tables and display cases in this gallery showcase the finely crafted tea, chocolate, coffee, and dessert services that once belonged to local Savannahians.
Unknown Maker (British); Cake Basket, n.d.; silver plate; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.22
Grosjean & Woodward (American, active New York 1850-62); Cake Basket, n.d.; silver, inscribed G.S.O. for George S. Owens; Museum purchase with funds provided by the Gari Melchers Collectors’ Society, 2015.1.5
Dominick & Haff (American, New York 1872-1928); Sugar Sifter, 1888; sterling silver; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family
George Smith IV (English, active London 1799-c.1818); Caster, 1810; sterling silver; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.118.a-b
Thomas Bradbury & Sons (English, Sheffield and London 1855-1905); Caster, 1892; sterling silver; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.116.a-b
Fenton Brothers, Samuel & Alfred (English, Sheffield, 1875-96); Caster, 1888; sterling silver; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.33.a-b
Ann Bateman & Peter Bateman (English, London from 1791); Sugar Tongs, 1797; sterling silver; Gift of Mrs. Robert P. Liggett, 1992.7.1
Sugar Bowl, c.1802; sterling silver; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.155.2
Ann Bateman, Peter Bateman, & William Bateman (English, active London 1800-05); Teapot, 1802
sterling silver and wood; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.155.1
Hester Bateman (English, 1708 -94, active London, 1761-90); Sugar Basket, 1788; sterling silver and cobalt glass; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.24.a-b
Sugar Tongs, 1780; sterling silver, bright cut; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family, 2012.15.108
Sugar Basket, 1782; sterling silver and cobalt glass; Gift of Frank A. Rizza, M.D. and family; 2012.15.40.a-b
New Hall Porcelain Works (English, Staffordshire,1781-1835); Sugar Bowl, c. 1800
hard-paste porcelain; Gift of Robert E. Jones, 1983.8.2.a-b
Attributed to Lewis & Smith (American, active Philadelphia 1805-11); Sugar Bowl, n.d.; silver, inscribed TER for Thomas Elizabeth Rice; Gift of Mr. H. Rees Mitchell, 1986.3.a-b
Unknown Maker (English); Miniature Tea Service, n.d.; porcelain; Bequest of Florence Hale Cantacuzene, 1985.6.57.a-j
Unknown Maker (German); Sugar Bowl, c. 1855
porcelain; Attributed to the bequest of Mary Telfair, 00.393.2.a-b
Edward E. Lownes (American,1792-1834, active Philadelphia, 1817-33); Sugar Bowl, n.d.; silver; Gift of Mrs. Karl Derst, 1984.7.1.a-b
William Lycett China Co. (American, Atlanta, from 1883); Sugar Bowl, n.d.; Limoges porcelain with hand painted decoration; Attributed to the bequest of Margaret Thomas, NN.101
Rockingham Works (British, Swinton, 1831-42); Sugar Bowl, c. 1835; porcelain; Given by Mrs. Reuben Clark, OT1974.11.3.a-b
John McMullin (American, Philadelphia, 1765 – 1843); Sugar Bowl, n.d.; silver, inscribed EYW; Gift of Mrs. Barnwell Cubbedge, 1972.20.a-b
Unknown Maker (American, Savannah Panelist); Eliza Lydia Crum Cassidy, c.1832; oil on panel; Gift of Charles and Merrill Thompson, 1987.3.1
Hugh Cassidy, Sr., c.1832; oil on panel; Gift of Elton W. Creech, 1949.2
Unknown Maker (American); Card Table, c.1800; mahogany with mahogany veneers; Bequest of Mary Telfair, 1875.102
Unknown Maker; Side Chair, n. d.; mahogany and silk upholstery; Transfer from Historic Savannah Foundation, 1991.5.8
Unknown Maker (Chinese, Canton, c. 1820- 1880); Tea Service, n.d.; porcelain; Gift of Dr. Albert Galin, OT1970.4.45.a-b
Unknown Maker (American); Jacob Hollowbush, c. 1840; oil on canvas; Bequest of Gertrude West Hollowbush, 1988.3.26
Adelaide Barr Garcia Hollowbush, c. 1840; oil on canvas; Bequest of Gertrude West Hollowbush, 1988.3.27
Unknown Maker (French); Card Table, 1830; mahogany veneer, satinwood, pine, leather, brass; Bequest of Sylvia and Frank Ferst Collection, 1988.2.6
Unknown Maker (American); Side Chairs, c. 1800; mahogany; Gift of Miss Phoebe Elliott, 1939.100; Gift of Miss Clermont Lee, 1965.1
Sevres Porcelain (French, from 1752); Coffee Service, c. 1844; porcelain; Bequest of Sylvia and Frank Ferst Collection, 1988.2.38 -40
Dagoty’s Factory (French, c.1800-1820); Cups and Saucers, n. d.; porcelain; Bequest of Sylvia and Frank Ferst Collection, 1988.2.14-15
Unknown Maker (American); A Lady from Providence, Rhode Island, c.1825; oil on canvas; Gift of Fenton L. B. Brown, 1975.10.3
Unknown Maker (American); Thomas George Percy Ellis, c.1823; oil on canvas; Bequest of Jane E. Smith, in memory of her husband, Raymond Telfair Smith, 1948.18
Unknown Maker (American); Card Table, c.1820; mahogany with mahogany veneers; Museum purchase, OT1986.1
Unknown Maker (American); Side Chairs, c.1800; mahogany and upholstery; Gift of an anonymous donor, 1966.5.1-2
Unknown Maker (French); Chocolate Service, c.1830; porcelain; Gift of Dr. Frederick Arthur Hallock, 1972.24.1-.3
Cups and Saucers, c.1830; porcelain; Bequest of Margaret Gray Thomas, OT1951.46.3-.4
The glass footed-bowl compote is designed to showcase its namesake iconic French dessert rendered from fruit and sugary syrup.
Unknown Maker (Bohemian); Covered Compote, c. 1857; Glass, amber-flashed, etched O for Owens
Gift of Jeanne Dixon Papy, 2005.20.2.a-b
Bakewell, Page, and Bakewell (American, Pittsburg, c. 1808-82); Covered Compote, n.d.; Cut glass; Museum Collection, 00.96.a-b
Thomas Wriggins (American, active Philadelphia 1831-67); Pierced Serving Spoon, c.1840; silver, inscribed JSR; Bequest of Gertrude West Hollowbush, 1988.3.24
Samuel Child Kirk (Baltimore, Md. 1792-72, active 1815-72); Serving Spoon, n.d.; silver, inscribed MT for Mary or Margaret Telfair; Gift of Mr. William K. Wallbridge, 1959.15
Unknown Maker (Bohemian); Covered Compote, c. 1857; Glass, ruby-flashed, etched O for Owens; Bequest of Margaret Gray Thomas, OT1951.76.5.a-b
Grosjean and Woodward (American, New York from 1853); Retailer Samuel Wilmot (active Savannah, c.1850-56); Chocolate Pot, n.d.; silver; Bequest of Margaret Gray Thomas, OT1951.193
Inscribed JGT for James Gray Thomas
Horton & Rikeman (active Savannah c.1850-56); Sugar Shell, n.d.; silver, Inscribed MEH for Maria Elliot Habersham; Gift of Mabelle Colquitt Strong, OT1986.3
Pie Server, n.d.; silver, inscribed MLS for Mary Lavinia Stoddard; Gift of Albert H. Stoddard III, 1994.2
William Sime (active Savannah 1769 -78); Sugar Tongs, n.d.; silver; Gift of Mr. E. Descombe Wells, OT1961.29
Frederick Marquand (active Savannah, Ga., c.1820-25 ); Sugar Tongs, n.d.; silver, Inscribed AL; Gift of James A. Williams, 1968.18.71
Sugar Tongs, n.d.; silver, Inscribed B; Gift of James A. Williams, 1968.18.83
David B. Nichols (active Savannah, 1815-39); Sugar Tongs, n.d.; silver, Inscribed J; Gift of Stephen Neal Dennis in memory of Addie Augusta Warthen Wert and in honor of John Bivins, 1998.25
